Art. 893. Suspension and deferral of sentence and probation in felony cases

A.(1)(a) When it appears that the best interest of the public and of the defendant will
be served, the court, after a first, second, or third conviction of a noncapital felony, may
suspend, in whole or in part, the imposition or execution of either or both sentences, where
suspension is allowed under the law, and in either or both cases place the defendant on
probation under the supervision of the division of probation and parole. The court shall not
suspend the sentence of a second or third conviction of R.S. 14:73.5. Except as provided in
Paragraph G of this Article, the period of probation shall be specified and shall not be more
than three years.

(b) The court shall not suspend the sentence of a second or third conviction of R.S.
14:81.1 or 81.2. If the court suspends the sentence of a first conviction of R.S. 14:81.1 or
81.2, the period of probation shall be specified and shall not be more than five years.

(2) The court shall not suspend the sentence of a conviction for an offense that is
designated in the court minutes as a crime of violence pursuant to Article 890.3, except a first
conviction for an offense with a maximum prison sentence of ten years or less that was not
committed against a family member or household member as defined by R.S. 14:35.3, or
dating partner as defined by R.S. 46:2151. The period of probation shall be specified and
shall not be more than five years.

(3) The suspended sentence shall be regarded as a sentence for the purpose of
granting or denying a new trial or appeal.

(4) Supervised release as provided for by Chapter 3-E of Title 15 of the Louisiana
Revised Statutes of 1950 shall not be considered probation and shall not be limited by the
five-year or three-year period for probation provided for by the provisions of this Paragraph.

B.(1)(a) The court may suspend, in whole or in part, the imposition or execution of
the sentence when the following conditions exist:

(i) The sentence is for a third conviction of any of the following:

(aa) A noncapital felony for which a defendant could have his sentence suspended
under Paragraph A of this Article had the conviction been for a first or second offense.

(bb) A violation of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law.

(cc) A third conviction of operating a vehicle while intoxicated in violation of R.S.
14:98.

(ii) It appears that suspending the sentence is in the best interest of the public and the
defendant.

(iii) The district attorney consents to the suspension of the sentence.

(iv) The court orders the defendant to do any of the following:

(aa) Enter and complete a program provided by the drug division of the district court
pursuant to R.S. 13:5301 et seq. When a case is assigned to the drug division probation
program pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 13:5301 et seq., with the consent of the district
attorney, the court may place the defendant on probation for a period of not more than eight
years if the court determines that successful completion of the program may require that
period of probation to exceed the five-year limit. If necessary to assure successful
completion of the drug division probation program, the court may extend the duration of the
probation period. The period of probation as initially fixed or as extended shall not exceed
eight years.

(bb) Enter and complete an established driving while intoxicated court or sobriety
court program, as agreed upon by the trial court and the district attorney. When a case is
assigned to an established driving while intoxicated court or sobriety court program, with the
consent of the district attorney, the court may place the defendant on probation for a period
of not more than eight years if the court determines that successful completion of the
program may require that period of probation to exceed the five-year limit. If necessary to
assure successful completion of the drug division probation program, the court may extend
the duration of the probation period. The period of probation as initially fixed or as extended
shall not exceed eight years.

(cc) Reside for a minimum period of one year in a facility which conforms to the
Judicial Agency Referral Residential Facility Regulatory Act, R.S. 40:2852.

(dd) Enter and complete the Swift and Certain Probation Pilot Program established
pursuant to R.S. 13:5371 et seq. When a case is assigned to this pilot program, with the
consent of the district attorney, the court may place the defendant on probation for a period
of not less than one year and not more than eight years if the court determines that successful
completion of the program may require that period of probation to exceed the five-year limit.
If necessary to ensure successful completion of the program, the court may extend the
duration of the probation period. The period of probation as initially fixed or as extended
shall not exceed eight years.

(b) When suspension is allowed under this Paragraph, the defendant shall be placed
on probation under the supervision of the division of probation and parole. The period of
probation shall be specified and shall not be less than two years nor more than five years,
except as provided in Subitems (a)(iv)(aa), (bb), and (dd) of this Subparagraph. The
suspended sentence shall be regarded as a sentence for the purpose of granting or denying
a new trial or appeal.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, the sentencing
alternatives available in Subparagraph (1) of this Paragraph, shall be made available to
offenders convicted of a fourth offense violation of operating a vehicle while intoxicated
pursuant to R.S. 14:98, only if the offender had not been offered such alternatives prior to
his fourth conviction of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

B.(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, when it appears
that the best interest of the public and of the defendant will be served, the court, after a
fourth conviction of operating a vehicle while intoxicated pursuant to R.S. 14:98, may
suspend, in whole or in part, the imposition or execution of the sentence when the defendant
was not offered such alternatives prior to his fourth conviction of operating a vehicle while
intoxicated and the following conditions exist:

(a) The district attorney consents to the suspension of the sentence.

(b) The court orders the defendant to do any of the following:

(i) Enter and complete a program provided by the drug division of the district court
pursuant to R.S. 13:5301 et seq.

(ii) Enter and complete an established driving while intoxicated court or sobriety
court program.

(iii) Reside for a minimum period of one year in a facility which conforms to the
Judicial Agency Referral Residential Facility Regulatory Act, R.S. 40:2851 et seq.

(iv) Enter and complete the Swift and Certain Probation Pilot Program established
pursuant to R.S. 13:5371 et seq.

(2)When suspension is allowed under this Paragraph, the defendant shall be placed
on probation under the supervision of the division of probation and parole. The period of
probation shall be specified and shall not be more than three years, except as provided in
Paragraph G of this Article. The suspended sentence shall be regarded as a sentence for the
purpose of granting or denying a new trial or appeal.

C. If the sentence consists of both a fine and imprisonment, the court may impose
the fine and suspend the sentence or place the defendant on probation as to the imprisonment.

D. Except as otherwise provided by law, the court shall not suspend a felony
sentence after the defendant has begun to serve the sentence.

E.(1)(a) When it appears that the best interest of the public and of the defendant will
be served, the court may defer, in whole or in part, the imposition of a sentence after
conviction of a first offense noncapital felony under the conditions set forth in this
Paragraph. When a conviction is entered under this Paragraph, the court may defer the
imposition of sentence and place the defendant on probation under the supervision of the
division of probation and parole.

(b) The court shall not defer a sentence under this provision for an offense or an
attempted offense that is designated in the court minutes as a crime of violence pursuant to
Article 890.3 or that is defined as a sex offense by R.S. 15:541, involving a child under the
age of seventeen years or for a violation of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances
Law that is punishable by a term of imprisonment of more than five years or for a violation
of R.S. 40:966(A), 967(A), 968(A), 969(A), or 970(A).

(2) Upon motion of the defendant, if the court finds at the conclusion of the
probationary period that the probation of the defendant has been satisfactory, the court may
set the conviction aside and dismiss the prosecution. The dismissal of the prosecution shall
have the same effect as acquittal, except that the conviction may be considered as a first
offense and provide the basis for subsequent prosecution of the party as a multiple offender,
and further shall be considered as a first offense for purposes of any other law or laws
relating to cumulation of offenses. Dismissal under this Paragraph shall occur only once
with respect to any person.

(3)(a) When a case is accepted into a drug court division probation program pursuant
to the provisions of R.S. 13:5304 and at the conclusion of the probationary period the court
finds that the defendant has successfully completed all conditions of probation, the court with
the concurrence of the district attorney may set aside the conviction and dismiss prosecution,
whether the defendant's sentence was suspended under Paragraph A of this Article or
deferred under Subparagraph (1) of this Paragraph. The dismissal of prosecution shall have
the same effect as an acquittal, except that the conviction may be considered as a first offense
and provide the basis for subsequent prosecution of the party as a multiple offender, and shall
be considered as a first offense for purposes of any other law or laws relating to cumulation
of offenses.

(b) The court may extend the provisions of this Paragraph to any person who has
previously successfully completed a drug court program and satisfactorily completed all
other conditions of probation.

(c) Dismissal under this Paragraph shall have the same effect as an acquittal for
purposes of expungement under the provisions of R.S. 44:9 and may occur only once with
respect to any person.

(4) When a defendant, who has been committed to the custody of the Department of
Public Safety and Corrections to serve a sentence in the intensive incarceration program
pursuant to the provisions of Article 895(B)(3), has successfully completed the intensive
incarceration program as well as successfully completed all other conditions of parole or
probation, and if the defendant is otherwise eligible, the court with the concurrence of the
district attorney may set aside the conviction and dismiss prosecution, whether the
defendant's sentence was suspended under Paragraph A of this Article or deferred under
Subparagraph (1) of this Paragraph. The dismissal of prosecution shall have the same effect
as an acquittal, except that the conviction may be considered as a first offense and provide
the basis for subsequent prosecution of the party as a multiple offender, and shall be
considered as a first offense for purposes of any other law or laws relating to cumulation of
offenses. Dismissal under this Subparagraph shall have the same effect as an acquittal for
purposes of expungement under the provisions of R.S. 44:9 and may occur only once with
respect to any person.

F. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as being a basis for destruction of
records of the arrest and prosecution of any person convicted of a felony.

G. If the court, with the consent of the district attorney, orders a defendant, upon a
third conviction or fourth felony conviction, to enter and complete a program provided by
the drug division of the district court pursuant to R.S. 13:5301, an established driving while
intoxicated court or sobriety court program, a mental health court program established
pursuant to R.S. 13:5351 et seq., a Veterans Court program established pursuant to R.S.
13:5361 et seq., a reentry court established pursuant to R.S. 13:5401, or the Swift and
Certain Probation Pilot Program established pursuant to R.S. 13:5371, the court may place
the defendant on probation for a period of not more than eight years if the court determines
that successful completion of the program may require that period of probation to exceed
the three-year limit. The court may not extend the duration of the probation period solely due
to unpaid fees and fines. The period of probation as initially fixed or as extended shall not
exceed eight years.